H1B Can Work from Home, new LCA, Amendment Required
H1B Work from home with address in LCA. Different state/city allowed. File H1B amendment if home in different MSA. Post LCA at home or employer's headquarters.
An H1B visa holder can work from home in USA. The H1B employer’s head office can be in any US state.
Home Address As Work Location in LCA
You can work from home if your H1B petition has your home address listed as the ‘work location’ permanently.
If your current approved H1B does not list your home address, then you need to file an H1B Amendment to get USCIS permission to work from home.
You can telecommute occasionally if the home address in not mentioned in H1B application but your home falls in same MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) as your office.
H1B Multiple Work Locations
You can have multiple work location’s listed in your H1B application. People who have traveling job do have multiple offices listed in their application.
Work Remotely from Different State
You can work remotely from home even if it is located in a different state than the H1B employer’s office.
This holds true even if the employer’s head-office is in another city/state with different metropolitan statistical area (called MSA).
Please note that if MSA changes, the H1B amendment is necessary to list your home address as one of your work location.
The distance in state does NOT matter. Your office could be in New York and your home (work location) could be in California. Whatever work location is mentioned in the H1B application holds good.
Is H1B Amendment Required for work from home?
If your work location (i.e. your home) is in a separate MSA than your office, then you will also need to file H1B amendment.
This applies if your current H1B petition does not already list your home address as work location and you want to start working from home.
Some people try to do it with H1B transfer application too. This is also fine as a H1B transfer is nothing but a new H1B application. Whatever work location you specify holds validity for the application’s validity period.
Where to post LCA if working from home on H1B?
Some H1B employers post it at their head office irrespective of the actual home address (work location) of the employee. This is acceptable and a recommended practice.
This is true even if the worker’s home is located in a different state/city all-together.
If not posted at employers headquarters, the LCA should be posted on the main door of the employee’s home i.e. the work location.
The primary location can your shown as your Home address.
The house office can also be the ONLY work location.
You can have multiple work location in your H1B application including both home and office addresses.
USCIS home office visit for work location verification?
Yes, It is possible that USCIS visit the employee’s work location i.e. the home address listed in H1B application for work verification, as they normally do surprise visits in office.
You should be careful when filing H1B amendment to make sure correct home address is listed.
Working from Home Prevailing Wage
It is possible that the ‘prevailing wage‘ in your home location is either more or less than your office’s location.
Your employer would need to pay you according to the work location i.e. your home location’s Prevailing wage requirements.
They may have to raise your salary if the prevailing wage in your home location is more than your current salary to maintain H1B visa employment rules.
H1B Telecommute in EVC Model or Third Party Consulting
Well, legally you can do it but the chances of H1B approval with home address are really low. Your end client will have to provide lot of paperwork supporting your home office location.
If you are working as a full time employee (FTE) for end client, things are a bit easy as the justification for work from home is easy, with no consulting company involved.
H1B visa stamping for work from Home
Complete list of H1B visa stamping documents checklist is given here.
- You should carry all original H1B amendment/transfer application i797 forms.
- Work location in DS-160 form should be your HOME address.
- Visa officer’s (VO) question for work location should be answered with YOUR HOME ADDRESS/CITY and NOT your employer’s address.
This address should MATCH the one listed on LCA and H1B application.
USA Work in USA - H1B, L Visa
vikram suresh 15 Jan, 20 at 9:29 am
Hi Anil,
I am currently working as an FT in NJ and I have rented an apartment within the MSA. I recently purchased a home in North Carolina where my wife works. My company has agreed to give me 2 weeks work from home. So I have few clarifications regarding amendments:
1. Do I need to just add my home address as an additional work place and initiate an amendment?
2. My primary work location would remain the same so am I correct in assuming there will not be any impact on prevailing wages or LCA ?
3. Is there any other paper work i need to do in this scenario.
Thank you for helping.
Sunil 26 Nov, 19 at 2:52 am
I have H1 petition approved for A location with a client, Can I work from home within same MSA for a different client without filing H1 amendment.
Mahesh 28 Feb, 19 at 1:20 am
Hi,
I’m on H-1B and I have 2 job offers. One from a company (call it Company A) which is giving me “Work from home” option as they don’t have office at my location or city. Another company (Call it Company B) is having an office at my location or city is also extending an offer. Both of then are offering full time employment with them-self (no consulting company involved).
I’m little bit confused:
1. What should I do considering the current scenario (of RFE and rejection of H1B)?
2. Will having work from home mentioned in petition have some additional risk of RFE or rejection? As anyway I’ll working remotely with the team (WHF), Can USCIS question on me being physically present in USA considering Company A has center in India?
3. Also since I stay in rented apartment, I may be changing my home (within 5miles) once a year. Will this cause some additional work?
Anil Gupta 28 Feb, 19 at 10:25 am
I do not see any issue with work from home opportunity on H1B.
Lot of people do it and do get their H1B approved if all the paperwork and prevailing wages are paid correctly.
What you can do is file both H1B applications and then choose and join the company who’s application gets approved, if you have that leeway.
Else, choose the job that is better paying and will be good for your career.
Changing of rental apartment could trigger an H1B Amendment if you move outside of your current MSA. If you change apartment within same MSA, your employer would just need to post the new LCA (only posting is required, no certification).
HARI OM 8 Dec, 18 at 9:39 pm
hi
My company has office location all over US. They are closing one of my working location and gave the option to work from home for all employees.
I have my I-140 approved in the same location and dont want to move location.
Do I need to do any amendment for my H1B. Is there any issue to file I-485. My EB3 date is Feb/2010 with same employer and same location.
Thanks
Anil Gupta 9 Dec, 18 at 6:23 am
If your office location is getting closed permanently, then there could be issue with approved PERM and i140 and may be required to file again.
You have to ask your employer’s attorney on what option does your employer has.
H1B amendment will be required too for change of work location as your office is closing.
hi me 8 Dec, 18 at 9:35 pm
hi
My company has many locations in USA and working directly in H1B. My company is closing one of the location and gave the option to work from Home.
I already have I-140 approved with same location. I dont want to change location and start another I-140.
In my case, do I need to apply any H1B amendment in case work from home option?
Anil Gupta 9 Dec, 18 at 6:19 am
If your home address is not listed on your H1B as one of ‘work location’, then you have to file Amendment.
Madhuri 30 Oct, 18 at 12:21 pm
I’m currently a Master’s student in the US. I will be graduating in a month. My employer is located in California and I will be working from home in New York, they don’t have an office in NY. Will this affect my chances of getting h1? Any advise is appreciated.
Thanks!
Anil Gupta 30 Oct, 18 at 12:49 pm
Hi Madhuri, I have already answered your question here on truVisa:
https://www.truvisa.com/t/working-from-home-for-h1b-with-no-employer-office-in-that-state-or-city/1461